Moscow

A Christmas tree rises on Moscow's Red Square on Dec. 25, 2006. The yellow lights in the foreground are the blurred images of small lamps from a garland hanging on a tree. New Year's is the biggest holiday in Russia, and is followed by the Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7.

Credit: AP Photo

India

Students join sand sculpture artists to create a 100-foot Santa Claus sculpture on the Puri golden beach in the Indian state of Orissa on the eve of Christmas, Dec. 24, 2006. Though Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare.

Credit: AP Photo

Bethlehem

Palestinian Christians and peace activists holding torches and balloons march against violence at the annual Christmas procession in Beit Sahour, a neighborhood of the West Bank town of Bethlehem, on Dec. 25, 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

The Vatican

Pope Benedict XVI greets faithful as he appears from the velvet-draped loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican to deliver his "Urbi et Orbi" message, Latin for "to the city and to the world," on Dec. 25, 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

United States

Santa Claus, also known as Jim Johnson, enjoys tubing on Harveys Lake, Pa., on Christmas Day 2006.

Credit: AP/Citizens Voice, R. Francello

Lebanon

Members of Lebanese opposition dressed as Santa Claus celebrate Christmas Day with a 44-yard-long cake during a show by Hezbollah and their allies. It was the 25th day of an open-ended protest to try to force the resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora in central Beirut on Dec. 25, 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

Moscow

A symbolic Christmas tree rises in downtown Moscow on Dec. 25, 2006, with a World War II monument at right. New Year's is the biggest holiday of the year in Russia, and is followed by the Orthodox Christmas on Jan. 7.

Credit: AP Photo

Ireland

Swimmers leap into the sea at Forty Foot during the annual Christmas Day swim near Sandycove, Ireland, on Dec. 25, 2006

Credit: AP Photo

Iraq

Iraqi Christians pray during Mass in a church in Sulaimaniyah, 160 miles northeast of Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 25, 2006. Most of Iraq's Christians, who make up 3 percent of the country's 26 million people, chose to celebrate the holiday in their homes fearing sectarian attacks, while others attended the Christmas service in churches in small numbers.

Credit: AP Photo

Britain

Britain's Prince William speaks to members of the public after attending the traditional Christmas Day church service at St. Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham estate, in eastern England on Dec. 25, 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

Iraq

U.S. soldiers sing Christmas carols after having lunch at the U.S. Embassy dining facility inside the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq, on Dec. 25, 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

Lithuania

Lithuanian Christians attend a Christmas Mass at the Gates of Dawn Chapel in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Dec 25, 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

The Vatican

Elizabeth Ntongo Musok of Uganda holds a rosary to be blessed by Pope Benedict XVI during his "Urbi et Orbi" message, Latin for "to the city and to the world" from the velvet-draped loggia of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on Dec. 25, 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

India

Indian Christian women sing during Christmas prayers at a church in Ahmadabad, India, on Dec. 25, 2006. Though the Hindus and Muslims comprise the majority of the population in India, Christmas is celebrated with much fanfare.

Credit: AP Photo

China

Eunice Brock, 89, of Texas dresses up as Santa Claus with her daughter, Gay Dewan-Prem, to deliver presents on a donkey cart to spread the Christmas spirit to Chinese students in Yanggu County, eastern Chinas Shandong Province on Dec. 25, 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

Japan

A baby, accompanied by its father, reacts to an illuminated Christmas tree in Tokyo's Odaiba bay area on Dec. 25, 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

Australia

Michelle Higgins of Ireland and compatriot Owen Brick lie in the sun at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Christmas Day 2006.

Credit: AP Photo

Myanmar

In this photo released by Free Burma Rangers, young Christian Karen sing and pray with the candles at their jungle camp in Karen state near the Thai-Myanmar border on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006. For the Christian Karen, Christmas is a sacred and joyous time. It starts on Dec. 1 with what they call "Sweet December" and is the beginning of the Christmas season.